Cherry MX Black vs Cherry MX Orange
The Cherry MX Black and the Cherry MX Orange are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Cherry MX Orange is lighter to actuate (45g versus 60g); stock they sound different: deep, muted versus smooth, mellow.
- Lubed from the factoryCherry MX Orangeusable out of the box without lubing
Choose the Cherry MX Black if
- you want a switch popular for heavy linears.
- you want a switch popular for vintage feel.
- you want a switch popular for spring swaps.
- you want a heavier, more deliberate press (60g).
Choose the Cherry MX Orange if
- you want a switch popular for retro revivals.
- you want a switch popular for smooth linears.
- you want a lighter keystroke (45g).
- you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.
Cherry MX Black vs Cherry MX Orange, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Black | Cherry MX Orange | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 60g | 45g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | nylon | nylon |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | single-stage |
| Factory lube | none | light (stronger spec) |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | n/a |
| Sound profile | deep, muted | smooth, mellow |
| Released | 1984 | 2024 |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.
Where they sit among all 227 switches we track
82% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Black; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Orange.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Black; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Orange.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Black.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Black
Where to buy the Cherry MX Orange
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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